That was always my experience, until I was tipped off about the burger and sandwich bonanza nestled behind the grocery aisles, next to the deli counter. O’Brien’s – which opened in 1980 - uses its own ground sirloin for burgers, and puts Boar’s Head meats between fresh bread. Burgers and fries are a $5 special on Wednesday nights, and other specials are offered regularly (check the deli's Facebook page for updates).

I grabbed my meatatarian pal Brian Bakkila and stopped by recently to sample a couple of sandwiches:

Fare and fees: Sandwiches and wraps range from $6.75-$8.95, burgers are $5.95-$7.25, salads are $7.50-$12.95. Call ahead for takeout orders.

Ambience: The room is your typical grocery store, but a seating area with a dozen or so tables and a couple of TVs occupies the front corner. Order at the counter, grab a seat, and your food will be delivered to you shortly in plastic baskets lined with wax paper. An outdoor patio is open seasonally.

Wait for food: About five minutes for an appetizer, 10 minutes for sandwiches.

O'Brien's A-1 steak wrap.John Serba | MLive.com

How was it? Tempted by what looked to be a souped-up Philly-style cheesesteak sandwich, I ordered the A-1 steak wrap ($8.95), adding fries for an additional $1.50. It features slices of seasoned tenderloin with sautéed onions, mushrooms and peppers, provolone cheese and a creamy steak sauce. The wrap was dominated by the sauce, was nicely savory, a little salty and had a bit of spiciness on the tail end. It came halved into fist-sized portions, and by the time I ate the generous portion of crispy fries, I needed a doggie bag. The remaining half was actually better the next day, cold and right out of the fridge – the sauce soaked into the steak and made it richer, and a little spicier.

Brian opted for the chicken bacon avocado sandwich ($7.95), and it was stacked tall: grilled chicken breast, onion, tomato, bacon, lettuce, provolone, avocado slices and mayo on fresh, fluffy focaccia. The cheese was thoroughly melted over the bacon and the breast. Brian enjoyed it and, like me, took half his sandwich home.

For an appetizer, we split an order of onion rings ($4.50), which came with a ranch dipping sauce. They were nothing special, but delicious nonetheless, and we ate them all. O’Brien’s offers fountain soda, and a cooler with a large selection of other beverages.

The final word: The steak wrap was comfort food, but its unique sauce pushed it outside the realm of the ordinary. Much of the menu offers familiar fare with a twist – I’d like to go back and try the chipotle BBQ burger or the beer-battered Alaskan halibut. O’Brien’s is more than just a grocer and deli counter, and the sandwiches are more than just your run-of-the-mill grill fare.